Appropriate?

[Juz]

Just wondering what peoples thoughts were. A YD sponsor has a banner advertising feeding the wildlife.

Personally I'm not for it as I feel it alters natural behaviour.



Juz

[Brian of Aquanauts]

I agree with you Juz.

Imagine if it went to the next step with people advertising turtle, or whale shark rides...

[Andy the Coastie]

Ditto ,,,,, am with the both of your comments

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Juz

Personally I'm not for it as I feel it alters natural behaviour.

I always wondered if his customers would find stingrays a trifle disappointing after signing up based on the picture.

If somebody wants to buy me lunch it alters my natural behaviour but if you try to stop them I reserve the right to complain.

[David]

Originally Posted by Juz

Just wondering what peoples thoughts were. A YD sponsor has a banner advertising feeding the wildlife.

Juz

its not a good image is it

[yazzyfooty]

I put out food for the wild birds here, does it change their behaviours, I dont know? I do it to help them in the winter and also for me as it enables me to watch their habits. Is the argument that I should I no longer do this?

[Scubee]

They say the same about shark feeding. By altering their behaviour, is it a good thing, a bad thing or neutral.

I personally think that if it helps preserve the species, then it is a good thing. Take sharks (because i know a bit about them). If a shark is killed, it might sell for a few dollars today, and feed a few families for a little while. If, however, the shark fisherman takes divers to visit the sharks, they feed them (obviously, sorting out all the safety stuff) that shark is still alive tomorrow, and next week. It becomes more advanatgeous to keep them alive. if this is done by feeding them,,, then so be it. They are still alive to breed and will continue to populate the ocean.

Using this type of thing to raise awareness isn't necessarily bad, either.

However, if it is purely for 'entertainment' then no way. Trouble is, it isn't that simple.

[Brian of Aquanauts]

The main difference tho is that the shark or stingray does not need this food to keep them alive initially, but it's an easy source for them in quite a competitive environment.

After a while it creates a dependance that if withdrawn then places the animals in difficulty. It also changes the dynamic within their own communities, and changes the balance on what was previously hunted.

Surely everyone sees this, don't they?

[Scubee]

Originally Posted by Brian of Aquanauts

The main difference tho is that the shark or stingray does not need this food to keep them alive initially, but it's an easy source for them in quite a competitive environment.

After a while it creates a dependance that if withdrawn then places the animals in difficulty. It also changes the dynamic within their own communities, and changes the balance on what was previously hunted.

Surely everyone sees this, don't they?

Yes, i think that will happen, for sure. But it isn't necessarily always going to be a bad thing. Depending on the specific area and/or species, the sharks/rays may need food provision.

[Dave Crampton]

Originally Posted by Brian of Aquanauts

The main difference tho is that the shark or stingray does not need this food to keep them alive initially, but it's an easy source for them in quite a competitive environment.

After a while it creates a dependance that if withdrawn then places the animals in difficulty. It also changes the dynamic within their own communities, and changes the balance on what was previously hunted.

Surely everyone sees this, don't they?

This would hold true if they were getting 100% of their food from human feeders, which would require a study to prove of disprove.

I've fed fish in the past, both with natural food, found in the sea to wrasse and congers and with frozen fish bought by the dive guide, who happened to post on here a while ago.

I'm not trying to convince others to do the same, but I'm not trying to convince others to not do this either.

By diving with wildlife must alter their behavour in itself shouldn't it? Perhasps not as much as feeding them. So should we all there fore stop diving altogether?